Torture is torture. Even John Boehner, that font of ignorance and obstructionism, frontman for the reactionary movement that now calls itself the Republican Party, called it so in a recent unguarded moment. Torture apologistslike Boehner are arguing that instead of prosecution, we should have a political debate, that this all boils down to a political disagreement. But civilized societies don’t debate the merits of torture any more than they debate the merits of genocide. There simply is no legitimate debate to be had on this issue. It is moot.

Torture is used by authoritarian and tyranical regimes solely to impose arbitrary punishment, or to elicit false confessions. Our American “enhanced interrogation techniques” were directly copied from techniques used by the Chinese and Soviet Communists, during the heart of the Cold War, and from other charming precedents like the torture of Jews and Muslimsunder Ferdinand and Isabel during the Spanish Inquisition. Even the Orwellian name, “enhanced interrogation techniques,” in another reactionary malapropism worthy of the creators of political “tea-bagging,” was taken directly from the German, “Verschärfte Vernehmung,” as used specifically and most memorably by the Nazis.

The perpetrators of this crime belong in jail, and it’s supporters should be ashamed. It’s as simple as that. And the perpetrator at the head of it all, the Fuhrer, if you will, of the American torture regime, is Dick Cheney.

[As an aside, PLEASE read all of Andrew Sullivan’s brave, concerted blog reporting on torture, at his “Daily Dish” site.]

One response to “Torture is Torture”

Between the wars people thought Churchill was crazy. Now Neville Chamberlain is despised and Churchill is the greatest Briton that ever lived.

I notice California is putting San Quentin up for sale (like Governor Cuomo did with Attica) Perhaps the Feds should buy it for the detainees? Californians, especially Boxer and Pelosi were enthusiastic about closing Gitmo, so let’s put it in their backyard. Would make a nice “shovel ready” project